Method of forming wing pulley belt gripping device



F. VAN GORP Feb. 9, 1965 METHGD OF FORMING WING PULLEY BELT GRIPPINGDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 1, 1960 m Wm WZWJM Feb. 9,1965 F. VAN GORP 3,163,731

METHOD OF FORMING WING PULLEY BELT GRIPPING DEVICE Driginal Filed Feb.1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,168,781 METHQD 0FFORMING WING PULLEY BELT GRIFPING DEVKIE Frauldin Van Gorp, Pella, Iowa,assignor to Van Gorp Manufacturing, lino, Fella, Iowa, a corporation ofIowa Original application Feb. I, 1960, Ser. No. 5,831, now

Patent No. 3,046,805, dated July'31, 1962. Divided and this applicationApr. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 196,022

4 Claims. (Cl. 29469) Along the outer side or face 30 of each pulleywing 23, an elongated belt gripping device 31 (FIGS. 1 and 11) isprovided. As the devices 31 are identical, only one will be describedwith like parts indicated by like reference numerals. It should beremembered, that although the faces 30 are illustrated as beingstraight, they may be slightly crowned according to the practice in thepulley art.

A belt gripping device 31 (FIG. 11) includes an elongated one-pieceholder 32 U-shaped in cross section and I having a flat base 33 and apair of spaced parallel side vices about the periphery of a wing-typepulley, which rectangular fiat metal bar for being formed into a holdingmember;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the metal bar of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the metal bar, after ithas been formed in the shape illustrated and secured to a wing of thepulley;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, foreshortened plan View of a rectangular fiatmetal blank for being formed into a retaining member;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational View of the metal blank of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the metal blank, after it has beenformed in the shape illustrated, and showing an end of a resilientmember seated therein;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the relation of the partsafter the resilient member has been pressed downwardly into the formedblank;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, and showing in end elevation thefinal assembly of the metal blank and resilient member;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 9 seated inthe formed bar of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the final assemblyof the belt engageable device upon which this invention is predicated.

Referring now to the drawings, the pulley of this invention is indicatedgenerally at in FIG. 1 and is comprised of a hub 21 having bushings 22at each end (only one showing) A plurality of flat, generally truncatedplates or wings 23 are secured lengthwise along their shorter sides (notseen) to the hub 21 in a radially spaced manner. To stabilize the wings,a pair of flat truncated gusset plates 24 and 26 are provided. Eachplate 24 and 26 is secured, as by welding at its narrower end 27 to thehub 21. at an end thereof, and along the sides 28 of the respectiveplate to adjacent wings 23 in an inclined manner relative to thelongitudinal axis of the hub 21. The Wide ends 29 of each pair of plates24 and 26 abut at the longitudinal center of the hub 21, as bestillustrated in FIG. 1, and are secured together as by welding.

walls or legs 34 extended at right angles to the base 33. The upper edge36 (FIG. 11) of each side wall 34 is bent inwardly from the main planeof the side wall at an inclined angle, whereby the edges areinclinedtoward each other.

Mounted within the holder 32 and retained particularly by the reverselyinclined edges 36 is a lag unit 37 (FIG. 9) including an elongatedretainer 38 and an elongated bar of resilient material, such as hardrubber, the bar termed hereinafter a lag 39. Both the retainer 38 andthe lag 39 are of approximately the same length as the holder 32, andthe lag 39 is substantially square in cross section. The retainer 38 isU-shaped in cross section and includes a fiat base 41 and a pair ofspaced, parallel side walls or legs 42 extended at right angles to thebase 41.

The retainer side walls 42 terminate at their upper edges insemi-circularly formed flanges 44 (FIG. 11) the outer surfaces of whichface outwardly in a concave manner relative to the lag 39. Thus, thepair of flanges 44 for each retainer face in opposite directions andform grooves into which the holder edges 36 extend. In the finalassembly. of the belt gripping device 31, an upper portion 45 of the lag39 is not enclosed by the respective side Walls 34 and 42, as is theremainder of the lag. This portion 45, the exposed surface 46 (FIG. 11)of which is radially extended further than the edges 36 and the flanges44, is thus free for resilient contact with a belt, and is the only partof each device 31 which comes into contact with the belt. I

The method of forming each gripping device 31 is as follows. Anelongated, flat bar'47 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of, for example, approximately 1thickness is formed into the open U-shape in cross section, as bestillustrated in FIG. 4. In this open formation, the side walls 34' areinclined outwardly from the base 33 and away from each other at an anglesuch that the transverse spacing or distance between the wall edges 48and 49 (FIG. 4) is at least as great as the distance between the baseside wall junction corners 51 and 52. The base 33 of the formed .bar 47is then placed on top of a wing face 30, with the face 30 being alignedlongitudinally with the transverse center of the bar 47 (FIG. 4), andsecured thereto by .weldments 53.

strip 54 are formed with the oppositely facing semicircular flanges 44at their upper edges, and are angularly inclined outwardly from eachother and from the base 41'. Each side wall 42'is extended atsubstantially a right angle from the base half to which it is connected.

A lag 39 is then placed in the open-formed strip 54 .(FIG. 7). The lag39 is substantially square in cross section, having forexarnple a oneinch height and a one and one-eighth inch width. It is noted that thelateral spacing between the innermost surfaces 55 (FIG. 1) of theflanges 44 is suflicient to permit the lag to be seated on the base 341', and that the width of the base 41 between the side walls 42' issubstantially equal to that of the lag 39.

The next step comprises pressing the lag 39 downwardly against the base41' (FIG. 8) until its lower surface 57 assumes the crowned shape of thebase 41'. Then, while the lag 39 and the formed strip 54 are heldpressed together, the side walls 42' (FIG. 8) are pressed toward eachother, with bending taking place primarily at the center 58 of the base41. As a result of this operation, the straight base 41 is formed andthe inner rounded surfaces of the side wall flanges 44 are firmlyembedded in and clamped to the sides of the lag 39. Thus, the retainer38 clamps about three sides of the lag 39 providing a full line seatingtherefor.

After the assembly of the lag unit 37 (1 16.9), it is placed on the base33 (FIG. 10) of the formed bar 47 and between the outwardlyinclined'side walls 34'. While holding the unit 37 firmly against thebase 33, the side walls34' are forced inwardly toward each other andtoward the lag unit 37 until they are at right angles to the base 33. Bythis operation, each side wall upper edge 36 of the holder 32 (FIG. 11)is pressed into a vcornplement ary flange 44, and with the side walls 34and 42 clamped together. The concavely formed flanges 44 are located ata height above the base 33 wherein they are adapted to receive theinwardly turned or projecting edge 36. As best illustrated in FIG. 11,after the foregoing steps the belt gripping device 31 is assembled intoa complete unit secured to a wing 23, wherein the lag- 39 is securelyheld in place by the holder 32, and with the retainer 38 providing aprotective wall therebetween. By this arrangement, there is no contactbetween the lag 39 and the holder 32 so as to prevent damage by theholder to the lag39 during the use of the device 31.

Although the above method of manufacturing each de- ,vice 31 ispreferred, it may be altered to the extent that instead of securing theformed bar 47 to the wing face 30 before the assembled lag unit 37 isinserted therein, it may be secured to the face after assembly with theunit 37. In other words, the entire belt gripping device 31 can beformed into an assembled unit prior to its securement to the wing face30. It should also be noted that one reasonfor the assembly of theretainer strip 54 and lag 39 as a' unit 37 (FIG. 9) is that thisprovidesfor the lag 39 being easily replaced, without removing the pulley 20.Thus, when such replacement is necessary, the holding bar side walls 34are merely bent outwardly sufficient to remove the worn unit'3'7 andreplace it with another, after which the side walls34 are pressed backinto their original clamping position.

In use, the pulley (FIG. 1) is adapted to drive a continuous belt (notshown), with the outer surfaces 46 (FIG. 11) of the resilient lags 39,which define the periphery of the pulley 20, being the only parts of thepulley which come into contact with the belt. The resilient nature ofthe lags 39 provides for a positive gripping action of the pulley on thebelt thereby enabling the application of more torque to the pulley. Lessslippage'therefore occurs which minimizes the wear of the belt.Additionally, the resiliency tends to provide a self-cleaning ofparticles'of dust, abrasives and metal chips which tend to gatherbetween the pulley and the belt.

The self-cleaning occurs when the belt leaves the pulley 20, whereuponthe upper portion 45 of the lag 39, which has been under a twistingstress during its engagement with the belt, snaps back into normalrelation with the retained .remainder of the lag 39, thus cleaning theentire face 46' of the'lag 39. This cleaning action is aided by thespacing between the gripping devices 31, and also by thestructuralarrangement of the wings 23 and the plates 24 and 26 wherein foreignmatter is thrown towardthe .sides of the pulley. It will be appreciatedthat the utilization of the rubber lags 39 also diminishes attendantnoise, vibrations and chattering.

Although a preferred method of manufacturing a wing I pulley beltgripping device has been disclosed herein, it

is to be remembered that themethod may be varied without departing fromthe full scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a belt gripping device for a pulley havingradially extended wings each of which has an elongated substantiallyflat face, comprising the steps, forming an elongated, fiat rectangularbar into a U-shape in cross section having a base and side walls,securing the outer side of the base of said formed bar to a respectivewing face in longitudinal alignment therewith, forming an elongated,flat rectangular strip into a U-shape in cross section having a base andside walls, seating an elongated bar of resilient material into saidformed strip on.

the base thereof so that a portion. of said resilient bar protrudesabovethe side walls ofsaid formed strip, embedding the side walls of saidformed strip into opposite sides of said resilient bar, inserting thebase and side walls of said formed strip into said formed bar, andclamping said formed bar side walls into engagement with said formedstrip side walls while said resilient bar is retained by said formedstrip, whereby to securely hold said formed strip;

- 2. The method of forming a belt gripping device for a pulley havingradially extended wings each of which has an elongated substantiallyflat face, comprising the steps, forming an elongated flat rectangularholding bar into a U-shape in cross section having a base and sidewalls, forming each of said side walls with a terminal edge portion bentangularly relative to the remainder of said wall, wherein said edgeportions are inclined toward each other, securing the outer side of thebase of said U-shaped bar remote from the sides thereof to a respectivewing face in longitudinal alignment therewith, forming an elongated,

fiat rectangular retainer strip into a U-shape in cross section having abase and side walls, seating an elongated bar side walls of said formedstrip into opposite sides of said resilient bar, inserting the baseandside walls of said formed strip into said U-shaped bar, and clampingsaid edge portions against said sidewalls of said retainer strip withsaid resilient bar therein.

3. The method of forming a belt gripping device for a pulley havingradially extended wings each of which has an elongated substantiallyfiat face, comprising the steps, forming an elongated flat rectangularholding bar into a U-shape in cross section having a base and sidewalls, forming each of said side walls with a terminal edge portion bentangularly relative to the remainder of said wall,

, wherein said edge portions are inclined toward each other,

face oppositely and away from each other, pressing an elongated bar ofresilient material into said formed strip onto the base thereof, so thata portion of said resilient bar protrudes above the side walls of theretainer strip, embedding the grooved portions into opposite sides ofsaid resilient'bar, inserting the base and side walls of said formedstrip into said U-shaped bar, and clamping said edge portions into saidgrooved portions while said resilient baris retained by said formedstrip.

4. The method of forming a belt gripping device for a pulley havingradially extended wings each of which has an elongated substantiallyflat face, comprising the steps, forming an elongated fiat rectangularbar into a U- shape in cross section having a base and side walls,securing the outer side of the base of said U-shaped bar remote from thesides thereof to a respective wing face in longitudinal alignmenttherewith, forming an elongated flat rectangular strip into a U-snape incross section having a base bent longitudinally along the center thereofinto two reversely inclined parts, and having side walls each extendedsubstantially at right angles to a respective base part, seating anelongated bar of resilient material into the formed strip on the basethereof, so that a portion of said resilient bar protrudes above theside walls of the retainer strip, bending said retainer strip at thecenter of its base whereby said base is formed straight 10 and flat andwhereby said retainer strip side Walls engage in full line contactopposite sides of said resilient bar,

inserting the base and side Walls of said retainer strip into saidformed bar, and clamping said formed bar side Walls into engagement withsaid formed strip side Wails While said resilient bar is retained bysaid formed strip.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,986 8/33Hutto. 2,088,086 7/ 35 Sorenson. 2,6613 82 12/53 Potchen.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

1. THE METHOD OF FORMING A BELT GRIPPING DEVICE FOR A PULLEY HAVINGRADIALLY EXTENDED WINGS EACH OF WHICH HAS AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLYFLAT FACE, COMPRISING THE STEPS, FORMING AN ELONGATED, FLAT RECTANGULARBAR INTO A U-SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION HAVING A BASE AND SIDE WALLS,SECURING THE OUTER SIDE OF THE BASE OF SAID FORMED BAR TO A RESPECTIVEWING FACE IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, FORMING AN ELONGATED,FLAT RECTANGULAR STRIP INTO A U-SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION HAVING A BASE ANDSIDE WALLS, SEATING AN ELONGATED BAR OF RESILIENT MATERIAL INTO SAIDFORMED STRIP ON THE BASE THEREOF SO THAT A PORTION OF SAID RESILIENT BARPROTRUDES ABOVE THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID FORMED STRIP, EMBEDDING THE SIDEWALLS OF SAID FORMED STRIP INTO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID RESILIENT BAR,INSERTING THE BASE AND SIDE WALLS OF SAID FORMED STRIP INTO SAID FORMEDBAR, AND CLAMPING SAID FORMED BAR SIDE WALLS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDFORMED STRIP SIDE WALLS WHILE SAID RESILIENT BAR IS RETAINED BY SAIDFORMED STRIP, WHEREBY TO SECURELY HOLD SAID FORMED STRIP.